Balance-Spring Mobile Platform for Gravity Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watch balance-spring regulating devices experience rate variations due to gravitational effects and sudden movements, causing accelerations that affect the balance and lead to rate advancements.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism stabilizes the balance-spring by mounting it on a mobile platform that rotates along one or two axes orthogonal to the watch movement plate, using a corrective kinematic chain to cancel out platform movements and maintain the balance in a fixed reference plane, minimizing energy consumption and weight, and incorporating an inertial kinematic chain to reduce acceleration effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balance-spring is mounted on a mobile platform that rotates along axes orthogonal to the watch movement plate to counteract gravitational effects, then rate variations due to gravitation are eliminated, but the device becomes more complex and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gravitational compensation function with the existing balance-spring regulating device by integrating the mobile platform rotation mechanism directly into the watch movement structure. The platform carries the balance-spring assembly and rotates along axes orthogonal to the movement plate, combining stabilization functionality with the timekeeping mechanism itself rather than adding a separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs dynamic rotation of the mobile platform along orthogonal axes to actively counteract gravitational effects on the balance-spring. The platform's rotational movement is designed to follow the wearer's wrist movements, dynamically adjusting the balance-spring orientation to maintain perpendicular alignment with the gravity vector, thereby eliminating position-dependent rate variations.
2Reliability
If the mobile platform rotates along orthogonal axes to maintain balance stability, then gravitational effects are compensated, but strong accelerations during sudden movements are transmitted to the balance-spring causing rate variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counterbalancing mass system that generates opposing accelerations to cancel out the harmful effects of sudden movements. The counterweight is positioned and dimensioned to produce inertial forces that counteract the accelerations transmitted to the balance-spring during wrist movements, thereby protecting the regulating organ from disturbance while maintaining gravitational compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile platform incorporates damping elements and inertial protection mechanisms that anticipate and cushion against sudden acceleration shocks before they reach the balance-spring. The platform's rotational inertia and mounted dampers absorb and mitigate acceleration spikes, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the balance-spring while maintaining continuous gravitational compensation.
3Reliability
If the balance-spring is stabilized in a fixed reference plane through platform rotation, then rate variations are reduced, but the energy consumption and weight of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile platform rotation is designed to operate periodically in synchronization with the balance-spring's oscillation cycle and the wearer's natural wrist movements. The platform executes rotational adjustments at specific intervals rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective gravitational compensation. The periodic operation aligns with the existing timekeeping rhythm of the watch.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the rotational parameters of the mobile platform, including rotation speed, amplitude, and axis orientation, to achieve effective gravitational compensation with minimal energy input. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the system maintains the balance-spring in a stable reference plane while consuming less energy than continuous rotation would require.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents rate variations by maintaining the balance-spring in a stable position despite user movements, reducing parasitic torques, and enhancing rotational inertia without increasing mass, thus ensuring consistent timekeeping.
Implementation Method 1
mounting the regulating organ, generally the balance-spring, the lever and the escapement wheel on a mobile platform in rotation along one or two axes orthogonal with respect to the plate of the watch movement, this platform being subjected to the action of an unbalance which thus makes it possible to maintain said platform in a fixed reference plane (either horizontal, vertical or possibly inclined), by the action earth's gravity
Implementation Method 2
incorporating an inertial kinematic chain to reduce acceleration effects
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The mechanism has a regulating unit including a hairspring and an escape wheel mounted on a platform. The platform is mounted to rotate freely about an axis relative to a bottom plate of a clock such that the platform rotates under an effect of earth's gravity. A wheel system includes a kinematic drive chain to connect the wheel to a barrel system and a kinematic correcting chain to cancel an effect of movements and speed of the platform relative to the plate. A regulating device comprises a flywheel (50) connected to the platform and driven by the movements between the platform and the plate.